JOIN us on our LIVE blog to make the morning commute that bit more bearable.

It's bank holiday Monday, so we're hoping for a nice, easy time of it on the roads this morning. As for the public transport networks... well, anything can happen so it's just as well we're here to keep you one up on all the latest from the roads, rails, seas and skies, isn't it? Stick with us until 10am for all the latest news and weather, as well as a generous helping of banter to keep you amused until you reach your destination.

9:52 am

Everyone likes a good news story. If you don't, what's up with that? Take a look at this, it might just change your mind! So if you're one of the only suckers duped into coming into the office today, or maybe you've been left with the kids to think up an epic adventure all on your own and you're already frazzled. Take a look at the video below and get back on the feel-good train.

YOUNGSTERS had spins in Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Lotuses, Audis, Bentleys, Subarus, a McLaren and a Rolls-Royce. Costumed crusaders were on hand at M&D’s Theme Park near Motherwell for the day of adventure.

A mainly dry morning and staying mostly cloudy but a little brightness possible, especially around Glasgow and over Lanarkshire. Rain reaching west Argyll coast around midday, edging eastwards to many places during the afternoon along with freshening southerly winds.

Lothians and Borders will be dry for much of the day with bright spells and becoming warmer with a little hazy sunshine. Dumfries and Galloway will mainly dry this morning then rain developing this afternoon with freshening southerly winds.

Much of the day will be dry with bright spells and even a little hazy sunshine breaking through, especially over north Aberdeenshire and the Moray coast. Becoming quite warm. Some rain in west during evening with freshening southerly winds.

Mainly dry but still quite cloudy, although some hazy brightness, especially towards Angus and Fife. Outbreaks of rain will edge in from west to most places later this afternoon, becoming heavier over Stirlingshire and Perthshire. Freshening southerly breeze.

A cloudy, damp start then many places dry this morning and becoming brighter and warmer away from West Coast. Hazy sunshine developing around Inverness. Rain returning to Western Isles and west Highlands this afternoon accompanied by strong southerly winds.

(As always, weather supplied by our friends at BBC Weather, so no writing angry tweets if they get it completely wrong!)

9:35 am

Political awareness isn't usually something I associate with budget hotels, but I live to be proven wrong. This clever effort at worldplay is only a mockup, but it goes to show what's on the political mind of British citizens approaching this European election.

Biscuits go flying: Five thousand people attended an annual knob-throwing festival in Dorset yesterday. Furthest toss of the locally-made roundish biscuit was 21.8m.

When asked about the year-on-year growth of the event, the event organiser said "Scooby dooby doooooo".

9:18 am

I read this in the paper this morning:

Losing their spark: Men are losing their survival skills with 62 per cent unable to star a fire without a lighter, a Channel 4 survey found. A quarter couldn't live without ready meals.

Maybe we need more Bear Grylls on the TV? They tried to teach those skill in schools, but every time a pupil starts a fire they're instantly suspended. Put ten men in deck chairs around a fire pit and you'll be lucky if you get two words out of them before the embers finally die out.

9:07 am

Anonymous data submitted by Android phone users show that the main road networks in the country are all running smooth this morning.

8:57 am

BE6891 FlyBe Flight from Edinburgh to Kirkwall was scheduled to leave at 09.15 will now leave at 14.00

EZE506 EasyJet flight from Scatsta to Aberdeen was scheduled to leave at 10.00 will now leave at 13.00

All of today's Easyjet flights from Scatsta to Aberdeen are delayed - please check the live arrivals board for more.

8:45 am

Good news from Argyle Ferries. Remember the technical fault that was holding back earlier crossings? Well that ship has sailed... normal service has now been resumed! Good times.

8:43 am

Great news if you're about to get in the car and head into or out of town on the M8...

If you've your eye on the roads when I do, I'm willing to bet you find this picture more beautiful than any sunrise shot...

8:39 am

Our sister publication, Scotland Now, have a gift for picking out stunning pictures from all around Scotland to kick off the day:

Have you seen out front page yet? Kenny Miller is set to sign a third consecutive contract with The Gers, 1D strip down to their pants for a brief encounter, get a FREE family railcard and of course, the tragic news about the loss of a Scottish tennis icon - Elena Baltacha, who lost her battle with cancer yesterday aged 30.

Glasgow 2014 will be running a series of workshops on how to make the best of the Games Route Network, including game lanes and parking enforcement in your area. To find out more, just sign up to one of the workshops!

Looks like it's lights out for the junction of Hutchieson St and George St in Aberdeen. Traffic is slow moving but the lighter bank holiday traffic means it hasn't built up too much yet. Traffic looks like it's slowly mounting on Commerce Street around the Beach Boulevard roundabout, but it's all looking lighter than is routine for this time of the morning.

8:17 am

I woke up to the sad news that the former British Number One female tennis star Elena Baltacha had died from her short battle with cancer aged 30.

Today celebrates the anniversary of the publishing of the first ever colour cartoon, The Yellow Kid, in 1895. Cartoons are now a core component of many newspapers, publications and printed media, and have had (and continue to have) a huge impact on our culture.

To celebrate this fact, here's a special mention to The Daily Record's cartoon stars Shuggie, Duggie and a Man Called Horace, via today’s cartoons from the paper:

8:04 am

What's better than good news? Two lots of good news? Yes please!

If you're moving Northbound over the A90 Forth Road Bridge, you'll find thatdebris uplift is now complete so you can just concentrate on enjoying the drive!

Hello to our friends up in the Highlands - ever-patient crossing through that contraflow system on the A9Kessock Bridge. Traffic was held up for a while as a wide load crossed over the bridge, but traffic is moving again.

7:57 am

One lane blocked and busy but moving due to debris on road on A90 Forth Road Bridge Northbound after B800 Ferrymuir Road

Watch out crossing the A90 Forth Road Bridge this morning. We're hearing reports that there is debris floating around in the inside Northbound lane. Traffic still light for a change, but tell your driver to look out for it!